PTR Break In

Found this on an old post and wondered how many people with ptr's actually followed this break in process and if you didnt what did you start shooting right out of the box. I started out with the process but do to the ammo rush would rather just start shooting off the surplus I have and am looking for opinions and preformance reports.

I'm sad to say that ruined my opinion of them, I'm one of the non break in people.

SlamFire1

March 2, 2009, 02:56 PM

I took my PTR 91 to the range, shot less than 100 rounds, and took it home and cleaned it. That is all the barrel break in I did.

These rifles come with excellent barrels, but regardless, they are not target rifles.

I have never performed the barrel break in procedure with a 30 caliber, and my barrel lifetime is still around 5000 rounds.

One friend who has the barrel scope and shoots 6mm XTC told me that barrel break in quickly reduces copper fouling in the throat. What he could not tell me was whether the copper fouling reduction would have been the same if he simply shot a bunch of bullets, then cleaned the throat, then shot again. That would have required a different barrel.

Just remember to keep your chamber clean. This rifle opens so quick and early in the pressure curve that it requires "gas lubrication" to reduce the breech friction. Those flutes float the upper 2/3 rds of the case off the chamber walls. If those flutes were not there the friction between the case and chamber would be so high that the rim of the case would be pulled off. If the flutes get clogged, like with condensed tar sealant, then the gun is going to malfunction.

Also if you want long barrel life, don't attempt to shoot this rifle as fast as a full auto. Barrel heat will reduce barrel life far more than a barrel break in procedure will extend barrel life.

And my rifle liked 150 grain bullets, did not do so well with 174's. Kicked harder too.

marktx

March 2, 2009, 06:36 PM

I wonder if shooting style matters with the South African ammo? I have shot plenty of it and never have had a problem. Have gone as much as 500 rounds without cleaning and no problems. I don't usually let the rifle cool down or take a lot of time between shots.... I shoot it a lot at a time and would guess that anything in the flutes wouldn't have time to harden/gunk up and would get blasted out by subsequent shots.